@Misha so one of the reasons you might feel more tired during pregnancy is that your body is telling you to slow down, rest, and relax.

1. Are you working too hard and doing too much? If so, listen to your body’s innate intelligence and what it’s trying to tell you.

Slowing down helps ensure you have enough resources for your baby’s development and the strength you’ll need for giving birth and taking care of your little one. Think of your energy like money. You need to save up your energy for birth and post-partum, not spend it all or, even worse, get into an energy deficit. It’s like racking up a huge credit card bill – which you don’t want.

2. Is your blood sugar balanced? If you experience fatigue, or lack of energy or moodiness before a meal, or feel sleepy after a meal, imbalanced blood sugar may be at least partly to blame. During pregnancy, our hormonal resources prioritize the production of pregnancy hormones and growth of the baby, so if you have weaknesses elsewhere in your endocrine system, these may come into the open.

3. Are you consuming enough healthy fats? Fats provide long-lasting energy to fuel daily activity and reduce our reliance on sugars and starches for energy. This decreases the wear and tear on our blood-sugar regulation mechanisms, leaving more nutrients and resources for pregnancy and fetal development.

4. Have you been tested for hypothyroidism and anemia, perhaps celiac? Nutritional deficiencies can impact energy production. Contrary to popular belief, many people who have celiac disease lack the hallmark digestive symptoms. And a lot of people with a history of unexplained fatigue turn out to have celiac disease.

5. Are you taking any prescription or over-the-counter medications that might be causing nutrient depletions?

In terms of what you can do, the first step would be to figure out what might be causing the excess fatigue. So testing might be warranted.

But in general, in terms of nutrients, we need a good amount of iron, copper, vitamin C, B vitamins (specifically B9 and B12), (and obviously good digestion to be able to properly absorb these nutrients) and also thyroid function for good energy during pregnancy. Diet is important.

For example:

Foods rich in iron: red meat, liver, seafood, leafy greens (chard, dandelion, spinach, beet, turnip, etc.), lentils, chickpeas, beans, sesame, broccoli, asparagus

Foods rich in vitamin C: kale and other greens, broccoli/cauliflower/Brussels sprouts, sauerkraut, lemons, limes, guava, acerola cherry, oranges, grapefruit, mango, pineapple, ripe papaya, kiwi, strawberries, rose hips and more

Foods rich in copper: liver, nuts and seeds (especially cashews and sesame), green leafy vegetables, capers, dark chocolate. Liver is a preferred source of copper because it contains iron, B vitamins and magnesium as well.

Foods rich in vitamin B-12: Salmon, sardines, shellfish, red meat, dairy

Foods rich in folate: leafy greens, liver, lamb, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, avocado, okra, Brussels sprouts, legumes, sweet potatoes, beets, oranges, cantaloupe, pineapple and berries

Let me know if you’ve done any testing and what resonates with you above in terms of possible root cause factors for your fatigue.

@Naveed Aslam I’m really sorry to hear this. Did the suppository help? If not, ask if it’s possible to do an enema to clear out her colon. It’s good that they’re keeping her well hydrated.

I’m not sure how helpful herbal remedies will be in her condition, but I’m going to share my reply to another member recently about ways to improve kidney health and function with studies so you can discuss these with her doctor:

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In terms of nutrients and supplements, there are many different herbs and nutrients to consider. For example:

Omega-3 fatty acids. Here’s a study that shows how it can reduce proteinuria

Astragalus is a known herb for its kidney-protective properties, particularly in reducing proteinuria and improving renal function in patients with chronic kidney disease. Here’s a study.

Cordyceps is also used in improving kidney function and reducing proteinuria, largely due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Here’s a review.

Curcumin (turmeric) has also shown benefits in improving urinary protein excretion. Here’s the study.

And there are many more…

There are supplements that offer a blend of all of these and more like Kidney Care by QuickSilver.

In terms of teas to consider, nettle leaf, dandelion root, ginger, and marshmallow root can all be helpful. In the US, I like Mountain Rose Herbs for sourcing herbs in bulk.

And as a food, parsley is wonderful for the kidneys. So if he likes Tabouli salad, encourage him to eat it regularly.

Hi @Naveed Aslam how is your mom doing now that she’s been on antibiotics?

Regarding your question about the stool sample, you can always freeze the sample if the shipping service is not available at the time when the sample is collected.

@Lana Zambarakji you can suggest she tries another brand

@Lana Zambarakji NAC is generally well tolerated by most people, but it can cause GI discomfort in some people.

How are you taking it? With or without food? What’s the dose?

@Lana Zambarakji I think this warrants a visit to the gastroenterologist asap for proper diagnosis. We can then help you help her navigate root cause solutions once she’s been evaluated by a medical professional.

With diarrhea and rapid weight loss, there could be various issues at play, some as simple as dietary intolerances or allergies (like lactose intolerance or gluten sensitivity), but also more pressing concerns like chronic infections, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) leading to malabsorption issues. Has she ever been tested for celiac disease before? I’d also want to rule out hyperthyroidism.

In the meantime, here are a few things that she can try for rapid relief of diarrhea:

Remove dairy and gluten 100% (especially gluten). I linked handouts for each to help you navigate that.

If she’s willing to eliminate even more foods, I’d recommend she follows an AIP type of diet for at least a month to see if her symptoms resolve. I share a collection of AIP recipes in THIS video from the Gut Health Masterclass.

Consider a probiotic with the Lactobacillus Plantarum or Rhamnosus strain. I share product suggestions in the same video above.

Reduce stress as much as possible.

And depending on how long this has been happening, dehydration is a consequence of diarrhea, therefore ensuring she’s well hydrated and adding in electrolytes (ex. Humantra) will also be beneficial.

Hope this helps.

@Yasmin atassi did they mention what type of contrast will be used?

If it’s a type of gadolinium based contrast agent like Dotarem for example, there is the risk of deposition in the body. The reasons for using this contrast really need to warrant the possible risks: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28362042/

It is excreted through the kidneys so drinking a heavy intake of water (can add lemon as well) to flush it out is a good strategy. There isn’t much research on effective ways to chelate gadolinium, however it has been suggested to follow other heavy metal chelation protocols to help the body rid itself of this toxin. We’ll be releasing the Heavy Metal Cleanse program by the end of next week hopefully.
 
Heavy metals are usually processed by the liver using glutathione conjugation (as is the case for mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), and some other heavy metals). We need to be able to methylate well to make glutathione. And we need available amino acids and extra B6 for the phase 2 liver detox.

Therefore supporting liver detox and supporting chelation as much as possible post-procedure might help. High intake of raw cilantro 2-3x/day (consider juicing) as well as a B-complex and ideally modified citrus pectin for the next 3-4 weeks (ex. EcoNugenics PectaClear 6 capsules before bed on an empty stomach with nothing else at all but water). No alcohol, caffeine/tea or smoking. Really support the liver, and keep the kidneys happy.

Hope that helps.

@Annie Sye keep in mind that the kidneys are one of the main detoxification organs, so if any of his other detox organs are struggling, the kidneys will pick up the slack.

The liver is a main player when it comes to blood sugar regulation so not taking his medication and eating high glycemic foods will definitely put more strain on both his liver and kidneys as a result.

Since he’s willing to make changes, following a low-glycemic diet will make the biggest difference for him overall. Teach him about my VPF principle; vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats. Here are some tips on dealing with cravings.

Obviously avoid any lifestyle choices that strain the liver like alcohol and smoking.

Make sure he hydrates well to help the kidneys function properly and flush out toxins. Sometimes adding in an electrolyte can help with hydration.

In terms of nutrients and supplements, there are many different herbs and nutrients to consider. For example:

Omega-3 fatty acids. Here’s a study that shows how it can reduce proteinuria

Astragalus is a known herb for its kidney-protective properties, particularly in reducing proteinuria and improving renal function in patients with chronic kidney disease. Here’s a study.

Cordyceps is also used in improving kidney function and reducing proteinuria, largely due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Here’s a review.

Curcumin (turmeric) has also shown benefits in improving urinary protein excretion. Here’s the study.

And there are many more…

There are supplements that offer a blend of all of these and more like Kidney Care by QuickSilver.

In terms of teas to consider, nettle leaf, dandelion root, ginger, and marshmallow root can all be helpful. In the US, I like Mountain Rose Herbs for sourcing herbs in bulk.

And as a food, parsley is wonderful for the kidneys. So if he likes Tabouli salad, encourage him to eat it regularly.

Hope this helps.

@Nathalie Khoury during antibiotics, you’ll want something with S Boulardii since it creates an environment favorable for yeast to overgrow. S Boulardii is a beneficial yeast that can keep an overgrowth from happening.

@Nathalie Khoury yes, it’s appropriate for kids too. Just need to adjust the dosage by opening up capsules and mixing into liquid or over food.

Another option for S Boulardii instead of the one in the protocol that’s marketed for kids is this one by Florastor.

And Klaire Labs also offers a kids broad spectrum powder probiotic which can be taken for several months after the course of antibiotics to replace the UltraFlora Biome Pro in the protocol.

These are just a few suggestions. There are many options.

Hi @Iryna Klevetenko is your husband willing to make lifestyle changes and quit smoking/alcohol after receiving that diagnosis?

Although your husband wasn’t diagnosed with gout, I would like you to refer to the Gout symptom dictionary handout HERE, as it shares common contributing factors for high uric acid (called hyperuricemia).

Of course, alcohol is a big contributor, therefore, eliminating alcohol altogether would be ideal and would improve his health in many ways.

Now realistically, I know this may be difficult for a regular drinker to give it up, so either he can start weaning by reducing the quantity by half until he can easily let it go, and/or “keep the ritual, but change the habit” until better habits can be made.

Ritual Zero Proof for example is a company that offers alcohol alternatives. Here’s the whiskey alternative.

As for LDL, it should always be put into context with the other lipid markers if you can share those too. But you can find more information about high LDL HERE from the Understanding Basic Blood Chem course as a starting point.

And you can find insights about high ferritin HERE, also from our Blood Chemistry course. High ferritin > 400 can be a sign of acute inflammation or a genetic condition called hemochromatosis. But again, we’d need much more information and a full picture of his iron panel and previous history of iron to better understand what is at play.

@Nathalie Khoury yes, no issues. Just have to change the dosing according to their age/weight. I use the following rules:

Fried’s Rule – for children less than 2 years old:

The dose of an herb is obtained by multiplying the child’s age in months by the adult dose and then dividing the result by 150. An example would be if an adult tincture dosage is 20 drops. For an 8 month old child you would take 20 x 8 to get 160. Then divide: 160/150 = which would be approximately 1 drop of tincture.

Clark’s Rule – for children aged 2-17:

Take the child’s weight in pounds and divide by 150 pounds. Multiply the fractional result by the adult dose to find the equivalent child dosage. For example, if an adult dose of tincture calls for 30 drops and the child weighs 30 pounds, divide the child’s weight by 150 (30/150) to get 1/5. Multiply 1/5 times 30 drops to get 6 drops.

@Nathalie Khoury yes, I give that vitamin A by Biotics Research to my kids. Seeking Health also has this liquid vitamin A.

@Lana Zambarakji As for checking B vitamins, they commonly check serum B12, but ideally it should be RBC B12. You can ask the same for RBC B6, although she’ll likely have to pay out of pocket because it’s not commonly ordered.

For B’s, they typically are measured with an organic acids like the OAT urine test, but it’s costly so have to weigh in that factor and see if it’s worth it.

Yes, D-mannose can be taken preventatively. In the protocol, I share dosing suggestions for acute infection and prevention.

You mentioned she’s perimenopausal – if so, the progesterone is likely a good addition since we naturally lose our progesterone first as we enter into menopause. Just make sure it’s a bio-identical progesterone and not synthetic.

@Annie Sye if you haven’t already seen my Medicine Cabinet Must-Haves guide, you’ll see Biocidin is one of the supplements I keep on hand for various uses. The guide also shares what remedies I use for different situations so you can feel more confident and prepared for the future ah-oh’s which are inevitable with kids.